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The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. Nevertheless, Nepal is a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two popular treks; there are many other trails that are exciting and challenging. Here’s a series of treks that are becoming more popular by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. Nevertheless, Nepal is a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two popular treks; there are many other trails that are exciting and challenging. Here’s a series of treks that are becoming more popular by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known around the world that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. However, Nepal is called a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two famous treks; there are numerous other trails that are as exciting. Here’s a series of lesser-known trails that are becoming more popular by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks may be the most famous treks of Nepal, but there are also many other trails that are exciting and challenging. Here’s a series of treks that are becoming more popular by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks may be the most famous treks of Nepal, but there are also many other trails that are exciting and challenging. Here’s a series of treks that are becoming more popular by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. Nevertheless, Nepal is a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two popular treks; there are many other trails that are exciting and challenging,. Here’s a series of trails that are becoming more familiar by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known that they are often referred to as simply, EBC and ABC. Nevertheless, Nepal is a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two popular treks; there are many other trails that are exciting and challenging. Here’s a series of trails that are becoming more familiar by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known around the world that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. However, Nepal is called a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two famous treks; there are numerous other trails that are as exciting. Here’s a series of lesser-known trails that are becoming more popular by the season.

The famous Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known around the world, particularly among those interested in the exciting field of trekking on challenging trails, that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC (Like, “Have you done the ABC?”). However, Nepal is called a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two popular treks that attract thousands every year; there are numerous other trails that are as exciting. And, yes, challenging, as well. Here’s a series of lesser known trails of Nepal that are becoming more familiar by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known around the world that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. However, Nepal is called a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two famous treks; there are numerous other trails that are as exciting. Here’s a series of lesser-known trails that are becoming more popular by the season.

The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks are so well-known around the world that they are often referred to as simply, EBS and ABC. However, Nepal is called a trekkers’ paradise not only for these two famous treks; there are numerous other trails that are as exciting. Here’s a series of lesser-known trails that are becoming more popular by the season.

Fire is His head, the Sun and Moon His eyes, space His ears, the Vedas His speech, the wind His breath, the universe His heart. From His feet the Earth has originated. Verily, He is the inner self of all beings.” –The Upanishads: translation from the Sanskrit.

Having had your first experience of what’s it like being in Nepal, your taxi ride having given you an up-close contact with a knowledgeable Nepali taxi driver, you reach Thamel after driving down half of Kathmandu.

In Buddhism, the threefold path to enlightenment and nirvana consists of meditation (samadhi), virtue (sila), and wisdom (panna). As far as meditation is concerned, Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati) and Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Bhavana) are believed to be two of the most valuable among the different types of meditation taught by the Buddha.

The best thing about Kathmandu Valley is its weather. One tourism entrepreneur once quipped, “We say that when it is 42 degrees in Delhi, it’s 24 in Kathmandu!” Blessed with so much natural beauty and pristine environment by the good lord, and plundered of its bounties of nature in so many ways by man, Kathmandu Valley can still boast of having splendid climate all year round, even if it can no longer lay claim to fame as one of the better cities of the world that it most certainly was once upon a time.

This is what Father Gillespie, one of the first foreigners to visit the secluded kingdom of Nepal in the 18th century, wrote in his ‘Account of the Kingdom of Nepal’: “Cat’hmandu contains about 18000 houses, Lelit Pattan contains about 25000 houses, B’hatgan contains about 12000 houses…the houses are constructed of brick and are three or four stories high…streets of all their towns are paved with brick or stone…there are also good wells made of stone…In every town there are large square verandas…called ‘pati’…on the outside of the great towns, small square reservoirs of water….” (Asiatic Researcher, 1801, Vol. II, London)

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Kathmandu is a cosmopolitan city, a big city with an ever growing multitude of people from all over the nation making it their home. Life is hectic, traffic is unruly. Amidst all this are pockets of serenity and calm, particularly in the splendid premises of grand hotels, with their landscaped gardens endowing a refreshing ambience. There are also, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city, pockets of hope and optimism and hard struggle, particularly in the many shelters run by non-governmental organizations for the disadvantaged sector of society. It is natural for glamour and glitz to be always in the limelight, and for others to remain in the shadows. That is why much of what is so good and noteworthy about Kathmandu is out of most people’s view. Here are some examples of the same that could be eye-openers for those seeking to understand Nepalis better, and provide a fuller picture of Nepal.

Its other name is “City of the Lakes”, and its guardian angel is Machhapuchchhre Himal, a.k.a. Fishtail Mountain, one of the loveliest of all Himalayan peaks. Welcome to Pokhara, where you’ll find a veritable paradise.

Cat Stevens wrote a song about ‘Katmandu’ while having chai and pie and hashish in one of its numerous ‘chai and pie’ shops. And, some say that Charles Sobhraj plotted a few of his murders when living in one of its many cheap guesthouses.

Much before it opened its doors to the outside world; much before mountaineers everywhere started coming to climb the highest mountains on earth; Nepal was already gaining fame due to the extraordinary bravery of the Gorkhas.

Whether in the cities’ bazaars, or in the countryside’s paddy fields; whether on the trekking routes, or in immigration counters and government offices, the one thing you cannot miss is the sight of the Nepali topi on many heads.

Kathmandu Durbar Square (a.k.a. Hanuman Dhoka) is one of Kathmandu Valley’s most important world heritage monuments, and it is where history and culture abound. Besides, it is as ‘living’ a ‘museum’ as one would find anywhere.

Patan (Lalitpur), the ‘City of the Arts’, is chock-a-block with treasures at every nook and cranny. There are also many fascinating but lesser known places that can pique your curiosity and sense of adventure.

Kathmandu Valley was once a gigantic lake in which dwelled an innumerable number of serpents. They were uprooted by humans who set about draining the lake to make the valley inhabitable. The serpents became angry…

Kathmandu Valley is often touted as a “living museum” because of the fact that in many places of the valley life continues as centuries before, and antiques abound in every nook and corner of towns and villages

We stayed at Shanker hotel at katmandu. The hotel itself is really large and has a big garden. It was builded when Rana family was a prime minister. Mr Shrestra, the manager had given us a really friendly welcome. Everyday here they have a wedding party of Nepalese hi-society, we were so excited to see the groom sat charmingly on the horse came along with a bunch of people and music. everyone seems very happy celebrating in the dining hall and durbar hall every night.

Kathmandu is full of vibrant and colourful hotels for both trekkers and dharma seekers, however the Shanker Hotel is seriously authentic and must not be missed. The outside needs a little paint and the barman doesn’t know how to make a mojito, but it’s not often you can eat, drink, sleep and be treated like royalty at a historic Kathmandu palace. Expedia’s travellers love Nepal, it’s one of the hottest destinations at the moment, and with hotels like the Shanker that ooze old world charm and sophistication – it is no wonder.

The form of greeting in Nepal is “Namaste” performing by joining both palms together. It literally means “the divine in me salutes the divine in you”.

1 – Do not trek alone. There have been numerous disappearances of solo trekkers in recent years. Always hire a guide or trek with other people. There are online forums where travelers can look for fellow-trekkers. This applies to everyone but especially women that are travelling single – they seem to more vulnerable. Always communicate your travel plans to your next of kin.

2 – Food safety - Avoid water that is not bottled or boiled. Avoid raw vegetables and pre-cut fruit as much as possible.

Thamel has been the centre of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over four decades starting from the hippie movement when many artists came to Nepal and spent weeks in Thamel. Also situated in Thamel is the Garden of Dreams - a historical neo-classical garden that was built in 1920.

Guests can walk to Thamel from Hotel Shanker. It is less than 1 km away - about 10-12 minutes walking. Alternatively, a taxi ride would take less than 5 minutes.

We're proud to host the participants of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon. The first edition of this event was held in 1985, and Hotel Shanker is proud to have hosted its participants numerous times since its inception. We wish all the participants well.